Improvement in devices for teaching music transposition



W. l. ELDERTDN.

Devices for Teaching Music-Transpositien.

N'o 146,891. c Patentedlantzmem.

W iTNEEEE 5= INVENTUH.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM J. ELDER-TON, OF HENDERSON, KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR TEACHING MUSIC TRANSPOSITION.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,891, dated January27, 1874; application filed December 13, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. ELDERTON, of ll'enderson, in the countyof Henderson and State of Kentucky, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in IIIIuSic-Scales, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexeddrawing, in which- Figure 1 represents a front view, and Fig. 2 avertical transverse section, of my improved music-scale.

Corresponding parts in the two :Iigures are designated by like letters.

This invention relates to a certain improvement in music-scales, inwhich the half-steps are noted simultaneously with the change ortransposition of the keynote; and it consists in con'ibining a slide orboard and a frame, the former sliding upon and between rails or waysailixed to the reverse side of the latter, and which are so inscribed ormarked with words, notes, characters, letters, and numerals that,eonjointly, they form a medium through which to teach music,substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains tomake and use the same, I will proceed to describe it.

In the annexed drawing, A refers to the slide, which is a plain board ofsuitable dimensions; and B, to the frame, which receives the former in amanner to enable it to slide thereon by means of grooved rails or waysI) b, fastened to the reverse side of the said frame in any known way.The frame B is mounted or supported upon legs, which, in this instance,form continuations of the side or vertical pieces of the frame. Upon theslide A are suitably inscribed two staifs, upon which are arranged thenotes, and over which the letters of said notes. Upon the left handupright of the frame B are inscribed sections of the two staffs, uponwhich sections are inscribed the F or bass clef and the G or treble clefcharacters. Inscribed upon the lower and middle transverse pieces of theframe B are the syllables and numerals of the scales, and upon thehead-board or upper transverse piece thereof the words key-note,half-step, half-step, as shown in Fig. 1. The sharps or flats are markedon the sections of the staffs, when re quired.

It will be observed that, in moving the slide A to the left hand, orreversing the movement, which will produce a change or transposition ofthe key-note, the half-steps will be noted simultaneously upon theinstrument with such change of the key-note, and thus expedite andlessen the difiiculties experienced in teaching the pupils music,especially vocal music.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-- The sliding scale-board A, in combination withthe indicator or frame B, having the lower and middle bars, upon whichare inscribed the syllables and numerals in music, and the headboard,upon which are marked the words named and shown, when constructed andarranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 10th day ofDecember, 1873, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. ELDERTON.

Witnesses i BEN. C. Rnnronn, \V. S. LYNE.

